Chapter One

CHARIA'S POV

Two weeks earlier.

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Our chef ran at full speed into the kitchen and I almost threw the knife I was holding at her. She stopped her chase when she saw me knock down on my knees in panic. "Are you okay?" She rushed over to me but I pushed her, slightly upset for scaring me. "I'm sorry" she quickly apologized before I could say a word.

"It's fine" I wasn't fond of getting angry and not even at Melissa. She was the only reason I was still surviving in this house, she was my safe space. Getting pissed with her would only be my problem, moreover, she always had a good reason for anything she did. "What happened?" I asked as I struggled to get on my feet.

"Your father wants to see you, instantly" There was more emphasis on the last word.

Fear gripped me immediately. "What did you say?" Like I didn't hear her the first time. She looked terrified too, scared for me. This had never happened before.

"Is he still with the council?" I asked rubbing my sweaty palm on my dress. "Is he alone?"

"Everyone is still gathered," Melissa said to me sadly. My heart thuds a hundred times. Someone like me couldn't be in the same room as my father and his friends. I wasn't worthy. Even Melissa, our home chef was more worthy than I was. She was an omega and she still had the grace to serve my father and his friends on her feet. As for me, I wasn't even in the pack and I dared not look these people in the eye. I was a wolf born wild, but not free, the pack rejected me, and they turned away whenever I approached. I couldn't blame them less when the people who should love me gave me no protection. They were the cause of my doom.

"Am I in trouble?" My voice broke. Melissa's face showed that she had no idea why I was called either, which made it worse. I felt dizzy, unable to balance my stand.

"Hurry, before things get worse" Melissa pushed me out of the kitchen and I staggered towards the living room. I walked with a heavy heart, my head hung low. There was no way I could fit in or play their game. I was always different, always to blame. When I got to the door, I buried my face on the floor as I opened it. I walked in with shaky legs to the middle of the gathering unaware of how many faces staring back at me, their growls of warning, and snarls exposed.

"Here she is, Father," My sister said. She was in the pack too. I could not look her in the eye either. She was a Beta and it was my duty to show her all forms of respect she required from me.

"The room is suddenly filled with her low-class stench," One of my father's friends said.

"We apologize Mr. Gregory. She would be dismissed soon" My mother responded. How 'kind' of her. It wasn't her fault anyways, she was drunk in love with my father and would do anything he told her. When I came to her with my truth, she turned away and refused to fight. I thought I could count on her, on them, my parents, my 'guiding light'.

"Charia!"

Even when my father was aging rapidly, he still had the voice of a ruthless commander, his voice sent dismay to my nerves as he pronounced my name.

He was the Alpha of all Alphas, his pack ranked first in all of New York City and it was one of the largest populations. To qualify as a member of my father's pack, the Red Moon, the lowest anyone needed to be was an Omega with one supernatural ability like a heightened sense of hearing at least and the person might also need to prove themselves somehow when they're finally in, else my father would discard them in the trash as he did to me.

"Yes, Alpha Lugard!" I answered going on my knees and bowing down to my father.

"Rise and look around you," He said.

I froze and buried my head deeper on the floor. "I will be damned to look at the faces of the Red Moon pack, please kill me if I ever do so," I said. I didn't learn to talk this way, the fear instilled in me was enough to request death from my father. He was unpredictable and any single mistake from me could cause my death.

A light laugh roared in the room from the mouth of my father and his friends. They mumbled words amongst themselves, I could tell they were delighted to see that I held no place in my father's heart. Alpha Lugard had two daughters but I was kept in a cage, not to be seen by anyone. Nobody knew me, nor do they bother to ask where I was, the spotlight was on my sister, Delphi. She was my father's princess, his heartthrob.

After some silent talk, My father's friends rose to their feet. "Let's save her life by leaving, a family discussion might be preferable"

"She's not my daughter" my father replied as they left the room. Of course, I wasn't. I had grown tired of hearing that statement from my father. What use do I have to deliver for the Wolfenstein family anyways? I was useless, ineffective, and weak.

"You can look up now," My mother said when the room emptied. It was just my family in the room, but I still felt obliged to bow. I stood to my feet.

I raised my face and the look of hatred from my father pierced my skin. His constant threat of taking me away from this house is the only reason I was still staying. As much as they all disliked me, I wanted to live up to their expectations, I wanted to miraculously be that wolf they all respected, and I wanted a silver lining. I wanted to make my father proud, but if wishes were horses.

"The moon goddess has shown her mercy on you. You'll be the first Epsilon of the Red Moon Pack. If you want to prove your worthiness, this is your chance."

The words my father uttered were like candy to my ears, but how can something so sweet be so bitter too?

"An Epsilon?" My heart lifted with joy. I couldn't believe my ears.

"You don't want it?"

"No. I do" I replied instantly before my father changed his mind. An Epsilon was not part of the pack members, but at least they get assigned to duty and they worked with the pack. They were lone wolves who get ordered around by anyone in the pack. Due to their weak state, they had no stand of their own and were mere servants. They were the lowest rank in the wolf capital, lower than an Omega. Working for Red Moon as an Epsilon was a big step toward getting my family to like me. I was hardworking and certain that I could pull off any task they gave me.

"Oh. She's so desperate" Delphi commented. My eyes fixed on her for some seconds, her pretty face was to die for and she was one of the strongest Beta in the pack. She was my father's heir, he never had a son and she was his only hope. I understood that my younger sister hated me, if she ever went against my father, she could be dead too.

"Your first task-" I fixed my attention back on my father. "Your first mission Charia is to slay Alpha Ryder, the second"

Like I was stung by a bee, my body itched in sudden pain. I wanted to let out a little laugh, but there was nothing funny about my father's words. He doesn't spill the wrong thing. I looked over to my mum, at least if father was aging, she could convince him to make the right decisions. My mother looked away, clear that she didn't want to get involved.

Did the council gather around to choose my type of death?

"Father, Alpha Ryder?" I asked again. He must have mixed the names up somehow.

"You heard me right," he said

"But Father, that's impossible" It was crazy to give me a task like this. If all of the pack warriors gathered to kill Alpha Ryder, there would be a mass burial. Father wanted the death of me, he finally wanted to relieve me from the shackles of being chained in this house.

Alpha Ryder's pack, Blue Moon Pack, was the second pack ranking as the strongest, most powerful, and most popular in the whole country. Red Moon's pack was the first, so yes I was the daughter of the greatest Wolfman alive, Alpha Lugard.

It is indeed outrageous to hear that Alpha Lugard who has so much power, wanted to kill Alpha Ryder, a young man who gained all his reputation with the strength of his own hands. If there was a rift between the two leading packs, it was something they could settle or better still have a war. Why does father want his death and why am I used as a scapegoat?

"What's impossible is you getting out of there alive" Delphi chuckled as she glared at me.

"Father, I am not worthy enough to slay Alpha Ryder, if you would give me another task-"

"I didn't give you a choice, Charia"

"But I would be dead Father. This is an impossible challenge"

"That would be great because I also want you dead"

"Is this a way to get rid of me?" I was extremely upset.

"Don't talk back at your Father!" My mother cut in. "You're such a useless child Charia, and now that you're given a chance to prove yourself, you still proved to be dumb!"

"Why can't Delphi do it, she's very strong isn't she?" I spoke back to my mum.

"Everyone knows Delphi. No one knows you or where you're from!"

"Does my life matter to any of you?" My voice broke and I swallowed hard. I thought my father's decision of making me an Epsilon was going to change my life, but I was wrong. The Wolfenstein family was just looking for a way to get rid of me completely.

"What do you need me to do?" I braced up confidently, more like signing my suicide note. I looked my father in the eyeball, I was full of pain and anger. I could tell this would be the death of me, but it was better to be dead than have hope that this family would ever love me or give me a chance.

"Firstly, you need to secrete all your pheromones"

Out of all they had said to me, this had my knees trembling and my blood seizing.